Formulation of Participatory Monitoring on Land and Water Quality for Land-use Planning Program in Laos

Abstract

Land use planning (LUP) is believed to be able to increase biodiversity, agriculture production and livelihood in remote areas. But until recently, it is eminent that in many developing countries that apply the LUP, environmental degradation continues and much of people living in rural and forested areas remain the poorest of the poor. The impact of LUP is poorly evaluated and understood. The objective of this study is to formulate an effective and applicable participatory monitoring system in the context of LUP in Laos. Participatory Action Research (PAR) was used to accommodate different stakeholders, i.e. communities, local government and researchers, in developing the monitoring system and integrating both scientific and local knowledge. The research was carried out from 2009 to the end of 2010 at seven villages and one sub-village in Khumban Muangmuay, Viengkham district, Laos. The results show that participatory monitoring could inform management decision in LUP by showing what trends are happening in the productivity of land for rice field agriculture and in the quality of drinking-water. Participatory monitoring provides alternatives for local government to cope their lack of human and financial resources by sharing the activities at village level to the communities and by reducing the cost. Integration of scientific and local knowledge brings more accurate, faster, cheaper and applicable system of monitoring to the impact of LUP on land productivity and drinking water quality. Participatory monitoring able to facilitate all stakeholders’ perceptions, knowledge and responsibilities in informing decisions of land management, in the context of LUP, that will conserve environment, alleviate poverty and reduce negative impacts on local livelihoods.

Perencanaan yang memadukan unsur pembangunan infrastruktur, kesesuaian lahan bagi pertanian dan kawasan lindung, dapat sekaligus meningkatkan konservasi keanekaragaman hayati, hasil produk pertanian, dan mendukung kehidupan masyarakat di daerah terpencil. Namun hal ini sulit diterima karena meskipun berbagai program perencanaan (termasuk tataguna lahan) telah dilakukan di banyak negara berkembang, fakta-fakta menunjukkan bahwa degradasi lingkungan terus terjadi. Selain itu penurunan produktifitas lahan juga terus meningkat kejadiannya akibat erosi dan hilangnya kesuburan, serta jumlah negara yang menghadapi krisis kekurangan air semakin banyak. Sekitar 1,6 milyar jiwa masyarakat terutama di wilayah pedesaan sekitar hutan masih hidup di dalam kemiskinan. Program penatagunaan lahan masih perlu dievaluasi dan didukung dengan informasi mengenai keefektifannya serta dampaknya terhadap lingkungan dan masyarakat. Tujuan utama penelitian adalah untuk memformulasikan sistem pemantauan partisipatif untuk evaluasi dampak penatagunaan lahan terhadap produktivitas lahan dan kualitas air minum. Penelitian dilaksanakan selama tahun 2009 hingga tahun 2010 di delapan lokasi penelitian, Kumban Muangmuay, Kabupaten Viengkham, Provinsi Luang Phrabang, Laos. Posisi desa-desa tersebut berbeda jarak relatifnya terhadap Kawasan Lindung Phou Luoey dan jalan raya negara yang melintasi Kabupaten Viengkham. Kegiatan penelitian dilakukan dengan menggunakan pendekatan penelitian aksi partisipatif (PAR/participatory action research) dan survei lapangan serta survei desa. Pelatihan diberikan bagi masyarakat dan staf kabupaten, terkait pendekatan ilmiah untuk pemantauan kualitas tanah dan air. Pendekatan tersebut digunakan untuk memperoleh partisipasi aktif berbagai pihak terkait (DAFO/district agriculture and forestry office, TSC/technical service center, masyarakat desa, dan peneliti), mengumpulkan informasi mengenai kondisi kualitas tanah dan air pada lanskap setempat, serta mengakomodasi persepsi dan pengetahuan masyarakat mengenai kepentingan jenis-jenis tanah dan badan air yang ada.